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Australia 1986
Directed by
Nadia Tass
85 minutes
Rated PG

Reviewed by
Bernard Hemingway
3.5 stars

Malcolm

Unlike Sydney, Melbourne has few iconic features - its trams are probably the most distinctive and this film, co-produced by director Nadia Tass with her husband David Parker, who was also its cinematographer and scriptwriter, makes them the centerpiece of an unassumingly inventive celebration of the charms which still characterized the provincial capital of the State of Victoria at this time.

As the film's dedication indicates, the character of Malcolm was based on Tass's real life late brother and there is an affection and respect for its subject that only comes with love's labour. Colin Friels does a good job of playing Malcolm, a slightly slow-witted but mechanically-gifted young man who accidentally falls in with a couple of rogues, also well-played by John Hargreaves and Lindy Davis). The film did well critically, picking eight major awards at the 1986 Australian Film Institute Awards including Best Film beating out other nominees including Mad Max 2 (George Miller), Proof (Jocelyn Moorhouse), Dogs in Space (Richard Lowenstein) and Crocodile Dundee (Peter Faiman). It did reasonable business at the box office ($AU545,000) and remains a much-loved gem in the jewel-box of Australian cinema.

NB: Although rated PG there is quite a bit of bad language and a peppering of violence and sex that put this just a notch outside of family movie territory (depending on your family, of course).

DVD Features: A strong package includes a commentary by Tass and Parker; cast and crew profiles and interviews; Interviews at the 1986 AFI awards; a Popcorn Taxi live Q & A session; press kit and more Malcolm gizmos.

Available from: Umbrella Entertainment

 

 

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